Public Order | 317
In 2006, some 10 702 offenders were arrested and 78.75 million sticks of illicit cigarettes were seized, a decrease of 32 per cent and 22 per cent respectively over 2005.
On international cooperation, Hong Kong Customs continued its commitment to stamp out transnational cigarette smuggling in concert with overseas customs. administrations. In 2006, by monitoring suspicious shipments and through intelligence exchange, 10.65 million cigarettes, 4.75 million of which were illicit, were seized in Germany and Panama.
Due to high oil prices, illicit fuel including marked oil, commonly known as 'red oil', detreated oil and illicit motor spirit continued to be sought by local drivers as fuel for their vehicles in 2006. To tackle the problem, Hong Kong Customs, apart from taking sustained enforcement action to shut down all the illicit filling stations, marked oil detreating plants and places where they are stored, launched a publicity campaign to warn drivers against using illicit fuel. Simultaneously, surprise fuel-tank checks were conducted to deter the use of such fuel. Enforcement actions were stepped up at sea and at land boundaries to prevent the smuggling of illicit fuel.
As a result of the department's vigorous enforcement action, the number of 'black spots' where illicit fuel activities were carried out, was reduced to 21. In 2006, 836 offenders were arrested and 890 000 litres of illicit fuel seized, a fall of 12 per cent and 24 per cent respectively when compared with 2005 figures. The decline in the amount of illicit fuel seized was due largely to the department's ongoing anti- illicit fuel operations and the success of the publicity campaign.
Anti-narcotics Operations
The department continued to take vigorous enforcement action to prevent and suppress the unlawful manufacture, distribution and trafficking of dangerous drugs; to trace, confiscate and recover drug proceeds from illegal drug activities; and to prevent the diversion of chemicals used for the illicit manufacture of dangerous drugs.
The Customs Drug Investigation Bureau tracks down drug trafficking activities, exchanges intelligence and cooperates closely with both local and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking.
In 2006, the department dealt with 80 drug trafficking cases and neutralised three drug storage and distribution centres. It seized 46.9 kilogrammes of heroin, 53 kilogrammes of ketamine, 103 kilogrammes of cannabis, 11.2 kilogrammes of cocaine, 550 grammes of methamphetamine, 24 683 tablets of MDMA, commonly known as 'ecstasy' and 55 032 tablets of other psychotropic drugs. Some 590 people were arrested. Through cooperation with Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies, 16.5 kilogrammes of various drugs were seized and 14 people arrested.
Boundary Control
The Tuen Mun Cross-boundary Ferry Terminal, providing cross-boundary ferry services between Tuen Mun and Zhuhai, commenced operations on November 3,
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